In my most recent job, I traveled around the world recruiting international students for Purdue University.  Sounds cool, right?  Really I saw a lot of high schools, hotels, and airports.  Working and completing MBA assignments while traveling, made exploring tough, but I somehow found time to explore Cartagena, go to the top of the Burj Khalifa, and catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Researching, willingness to learn the language, taking tours, talking with drivers, and checking for discounts made seeing more than just airports a possibility.  With these 5 tips, you can make the most out of your work trip or weekend away!

Research your location and plan ahead: You would do this for any leisure trip, why not for a business trip as well?  With good research, you can determine which area of the city to stay in for business and exploring purposes and if a city is worth spending an additional night (versus flying out) or non-working weekend in.  Ask people you know if they’ve been to said city and of course, Google it. My personal favorite research phrase, “Free things to do in _____.”  You may also come across example day itineraries making the planning process much simpler.

Time is also big in the planning process.  Think you’ll be able to hit up the Golden Gate bridge quickly in 5 PM rush traffic, think again.  Be mindful of differences in time needed for travel and your overall schedule.  For me, this meant getting up at 7AM to take a midterm or finish an assignment so I would have my Saturday off to explore.  If your job allows (and the request is within reason) you could also add buffer hours for visiting toursits sites on the way to the next meeting.

Learn language pleasantries:  Hello, Goodbye, My Name is ____, Thank You, You’re Welcome, Where’s the Bathroom.  If you’re going to a country where English is not the primary, you should learn common phrases.  Yes, a good number of people you encounter will also speak some level of English, but you should at least make the effort.  Don’t be one of those people.  People love when you at least try and after are more than willing to assist.

Find a free walking tour:  These were my best friend in Cartagena and Bogota, Colombia.  Free walking tours are awesome because you get a feel for the lay of the land.  With a weekend, find an early morning walking tour Saturday to find your bearings and determine what areas you’d like to revisit further.  Free walking tours are also a great way to meet other solo travelers.  In both cities, I met European girls taking time off to travel the world (because that’s a thing).  I was then able to make a plan to visit the Cartagena fort with one the next day or simply have lunch with another directly after the tour.  Having travel companions made me feel safer and explore parts of the city I may not have otherwise.

Talk to your Uber drivers: Well first, see if the country you’ll be in has Uber and if it’s legal.  In the Middle East, I used EasyTaxi with an interface similar to Uber.  Fun fact, one of my taxis in Jordan was a new taxi yellow Mercedez-Benz.  Whatttt!  Anywho, drivers are often a great resource for finding out where the locals eat, top sites to visit, and unsafe areas to know.  Be prepared to take notes as you may not have internet and check out their suggestions when you get to your room for the night.

Check discount websites: In addition to free things see if there are any good Groupons.  I did this while in Dubai and saved about $20USD on the cost of going to the top of the Burj Khalifa by using a Groupon and a Groupon discount code that was available at the time.  Buyer beware…be sure to check these against prices direct from the source!

Hope you’ve found these tips helpful and your next trip is a success!

Me